It’s now 2011, and I find myself resistant to do one of those wrap-up posts or to talk about my resolutions for the new year. Yet, there is something to be said for taking stock, for looking back at the road behind you, and looking ahead at the path you have yet to take.

Personally, as with every year, it was a series of ups and downs. I was still dealing a lot at the beginning of the year with my mother’s death and that was something that took a toll. But somewhere in the past twelve months, I found a measure of peace and especially toward the second half of the year, peace and happiness seem to have worked their way into my life in a more regular fashion.

Professionally, at least on the writing front, things improved significantly in the past year. Aside from acquiring an agent, I also had three stories published this past year, and a few more accepted for publication. I also had my first solo reading at World Fantasy. And there were podcast narrations and blog posts for Tor.com.

But I find myself looking ahead rather than looking back, at the things I see glimmering on the horizon. As happy as I am with my successes, I see more of them ahead, I see things that I want dearly, and I see the work I’m going to have to do to get there. The challenge is to put in the work and the effort and hope that it pays off.

When I was at Clarion West in 2008, Chuck Palahniuk suggested to us that we all come up with goals for the successive year, and encouraged us to make them as big as possible.  In his experience it was the people who did this that often went on to great success. I stated my goals and thought it took longer than a year, met them. I think the beginning of 2011 may be the time to do so again. And thought my natural inclination is not to do so in a public forum, that flies against the spirit of the exercise, so if I do so, I’ll do it here.

Happy New Year to everyone reading this. I hope that you accomplish everything you set out to do and that 2011 is a wonderful year for you.